Up until recently, my blogging experience mainly consisted of tutorials, guides and software reviews. In these types of posts, you aren’t really starting a conversation you are just telling your readers how to do something.
The reason for this lack of conversation starting articles comes from my engineering background where bland writing that tells you how to do something is pretty common. They aren’t too difficult to write. Just get out there and tell someone how to do something you know how to do.
Starting to write for this social media blog has already brought challenges to me. One of my first articles, How To Download Facebook Photo Albums, is a prime example of talking at your readers. It’s just a guide to do something. Now, don’t get me wrong. Guides are great, and this blog will continue to have guides for all kinds of different social media tactics or tips.
However, I want this blog to be more. I want to write more opinion pieces, more off the cuff thoughts. Just a free flow of thoughts on social media and the constant state of flux it is in and how to use it to your advantage.
This post is meant to be my first real conversation starter, hopefully. I want everyone to learn from me, but I also want to learn from my readers. That’s why I’m asking for a little advice.
What are your best tips for making your writing more conversational? What are the best blogs at starting conversations?
Image by HeyThereSpaceman
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June 16th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
I’ve found the quickest way to get feedback is to misspell something. [b-dom-chhh] But really, I ask questions and have contests and polls to find out what people like. I also write in a casual, approachable style. I’m in the south, so I’m not afraid to use “gonna,” “wanna,” or “y’all.” I use cultural references as if I’m talking to somebody I hang out with all the time. If they get it, it’s great. If they don’t, they’ll ask, and then we get to laugh at that person who didn’t get it! Lastly, men frequently underestimate the value of a well-placed exclamation point. Throw a couple in there all devil-may-care! Woops, not too many.
June 16th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
I just write the way I talk and people seem to like it. I do wish they’d leave more comments though. instead I get tweets and emails.
You’re a good conversationalist. Do as Mark Twain once said. Write what you know… then just write it like you tell us about it at the SMC meetings.
j
June 16th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Thanks Jay and Shelli for the feedback.